//------------------------------// // Applejack Attack // Story: Chaos and Courage // by SabreXio //------------------------------// "...And after that, I went straight to you" Twilight said as she finished telling me what had happened after we separated. "And you're sure this Memory Spell will work?" I asked "'Cause I really don't want to have to knock Applejack out" "I'm positive" she replied "As long as I can get close enough. Are you sure you can restrain her? Earth ponies are strong, even without AJ's years of farm work" "Looks like we're about to find out" I said as we approached Sweet Apple Acres. We all took cover by the front of the barn. Applejack was reclining against the side, telling some story that was a complete lie. "OK, let's go over the plan one more time: Tau, you get her attention and keep it until I grab her. Once I have her, Twilight, you use the spell once she exhausts herself" "I like this plan, simple yet effective" Twilight said nodding in approval "Let's do it" "Good luck, Tau" I said as the maintenance bot hovered off to the other side of the barn. I peeked out, waiting for Tau to appear. Soon enough, the little bot appeared and approached Applejack. "What the hay?" she said when she saw him. He then proceeded to take some of the apple cores she discarded and begin juggling them. I looked back to Twilight "Follow me" I snuck around the corner and began tiptoeing down to the distracted farmer. Once I was behind her, I sprung my trap. with one arm I grabbed her around the neck, while the other caught her under the stomach. I pulled her off the ground and held her tight to my chest. "Gotcha!" "What'n tarnation?" she exclaimed. Twilight wasn't kidding, Earth ponies are strong. The orange mare began flailing around like...well like a captured animal. "Let me go ya varmint!" she demanded as she smashed her head into mine "I'll skin ya alive!" "Just...hold...still" I ordered as she continued squirming "Don't make me hurt you" Say what you will about Applejack, but she's nothing if she isn't tenacious. I had overclocked my arm servos, giving me much greater strength but this little pony was giving me a run for my money. Eventually though, she did begin to tire, after slamming me in the head a few times and cracking my eye. "Twilight" I shouted over the country pony's complaints "Use the spell" The purple unicorn dashed in front. "The spell needs to be cast on her head to work" Applejack was way ahead of me, because with one big jolt, she knocked me backwards on to the ground. The impact cause me to loosen my grip. I felt the pony try to slip away, but I quickly rolled over on top of her, pinning her to the ground. "Let's see you move eight-hundred pounds of dead weight" I said Twilight sprang into action. She rushed to where Applejack's head was and began the process. her horn began glowing and she gently placed it on AJ's forehead. The spell then spread like a wave over the mare, stopping her struggling. I rolled over onto my back panting from exhaustion. "Wha...wha happened?" Applejack asked as she rubbed her head. She tried to stand up, but the struggle she put up had really drained her, causing her to be a bit unsteady. "It's a long story" Twilight said. Applejack looked over at me. "Uh, ya'll right partner?" I pulled myself into a sitting position. "I'll be fine" I said through my heavy breathing "Just...just give me a minute" "What happened ta yer eye?" "Wait...you don't remember...anything that just happened?" "The last thing Ah remember was bein' in the maze" she said "But then Ah remember seein' some vision, with all of us fightin' and I just couldn't bear ta see that. Then Ah started lyin' 'bout everything" Twilight and I filled in the blanks "So, in conclusion, you are one strong little pony" "Wow, Ah'm sorry 'bout that Captain" "Don't worry about it" I said as I stood back up "Nothing I can't fix, but remind me to never get in a fight with you" "You got it" the farmer replied with a chuckle "So what's next?" "Let me check" I said before switching to the radio All units, Sit-Rep I said over the communicator Guardian reporting in: no sign of objective at primary location, moving to secondary Firestorm reporting in: Albatross just returned, beginning refit for deployment Maintenance Droid Designation Phi Reporting: approaching primary location Maintenance Droid Designation Mu Reporting: Objective located. Activating beacon I suddenly noticed a light on my HUD: it was Mu. "Looks like we're going to help Fluttershy next" I said "Mu found her at her cottage" "Moo?" Applejack asked "Ya got a cow lookin' for Fluttershy?" "Not 'Moo' AJ" Twilight corrected as we began walking "Me-you" "Mu is a small robot I use for maintenance. There's also Tau, who you just met..." Tau waved and made a few beeps "And then there's Phi, who we'll see later" "Tau, return to base and help Firestorm with the Albatross" He saluted and set a course for the base. I got back on the radio. "Mu, hold position, we're on our way"